Moon River

Moon River, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker,
wherever you're going I'm going your way.
Two drifters off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end--
waiting 'round the bend,
my huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.

That sums it up perfectly. Style, beauty and sophistication at its peak.

Moon River, an offshoot of Wild Rice, is located a short ride over the bridge out of town on the Red River. Quietly serene, it is really no more than fifteen minutes from the centre of Hanoi, yet seems as distant as the eponymous moon itself. We have been lucky enough to have a chance to try out this restaurant which normally only opens for functions or pre booked dinners.

With twenty of us going, we travel out in a excitable convoy of taxis and motorbikes and all the talk and explanations of what to expect did nothing to prepare us for the exquisite beauty of this place. I have to say that there has been no experience in my memory to match wandering through the grounds of this restaurant come mini resort.

As we arrive twenty minutes before sunset, we are there just in time to take in the view of the Red River which appears from the gardens surrounding the restaurant. The space is scattered with ponds, statues and lush tropical plants. A textured compliment to the drifting river and dimming red sunset. Can it get any better? The answer is a resounding YES!!!!

We are led inside the house where we will be eating and once again, we are gobsmacked. This house is a traditional Vietnamese long house that was disassembled in the countryside and reassembled at this location. The room is filled with rich furnishings and exquisitely carved dark wood detailing is everywhere, stretching up into the interlocked beam ceiling. We wander around all the while being served drinks by the silkily skilled staff; I think that I may have invented a hyperbole there, but what else can you do when they are that good.

There is a slight delay while we are waiting for extra people to arrive after work so we move to yet another building. Inside, the bar is uber cool and modern, the bottles of alcohol sit glowing in the circular backlit bar. Sofas stretch lazily around the room as we sink back and let it all wash over us.

Back to the long house, and this time we sit down at an artistically arranged table. White lotus are in vases, the plates alternate from red to gold at each alternate setting. Little traditional Vietnamese statues have the rolled menus tied to them and they stand smartly to attention on the tables.

Then the food, the food, the food! The starters are laid out on the table in big baskets for everyone to help themselves. We are tucking into a seafood banquet tonight, and from the looks of this, it is going to be great. There is a beautiful Vietnamese morning glory salad that is light and tangy, prawns, fish, soft shelled crab, fresh spring rolls, fried spring rolls. Every morsel is devoured eagerly - this food is absolutely delicious. Champers goes around and there are toasts galore, to the food, to the host, to the night and the day and we're loving it!

Before long we're full as googs and it just keeps on coming. We're now on to the main meal. More baskets of tasty treats. There's tuna in banana leaves which is absolutely spectacular. More prawns, this time flavoured with sweet tamarind, and side dishes of fresh asparagus. Dessert is a sweet consomme of longan, unique and different. By the final bell we can barely move and may have to be rolled home like barrels.

So, as you may have gleaned so far, this restaurant is pretty damn spectacular. I would say that it is inarguably the finest looking restaurant in Hanoi bar none, and the food is exceptional. You will never have an experience like this anywhere else in Vietnam, or even the world for that matter. 5 out of 5, ten out of ten, 100%. This is absolutely what the experience of food is all about. Gastronomic heaven!

Worth Every Penny
Starters: Morning glory Salad with prawns, ground prawn and cashew nuts fried spring rolls, fresh spring rolls, crispy-fried prawns wrapped in young sticky rice, crispy soft shell crab, grilled king prawn with chilli and lemon grass, vegetarian fresh spring rolls
Main course: Grilled tuna in banana leaves, sauteed prawns with peanuts and tamarind sauce, fresh asparagus in spicy sauce, mushroom and tofu in clay pot, stir-fried egg vermicelli with tofu, steamed rice
Dessert: Sweet consomme of longan, tea and coffee
Lashings of beer, wine and soft drink etc

We paid around $25 a head but it depends on your food and beverage choice. They will create a menu to your taste. Moon River can cater for up to 300 people.

Moon River
Bac Cau, Ngoc Thuy Village
Gia Lam District, Hanoi
Phone: 8711658 Fax: 8713665 Email: moonriver@fpt.vn

Comments

[Preya]

Wow, what a beautiful place! Sure wasn't around when I lived in Hanoi.

[Sticky]

Hi Preya

It is such a beautiful place that it is hard to do it justice. Not sure when you were in Hanoi but I think Moon River has only been around for about a year.

cheers
Sticky

[mona]

hi
this place sounds great - your piece says that it is only open by pre-booking - does it have to be for a large group or is it possible to book for just 4 people?
i will be comeing to hanoi next month (march 06) and would love to try it.
thamks,
mona